Apparatus and method for solar energy collector

Abstract

A system and method for a portable solar cell array system is provided. One embodiment has a first, second and third plurality of solar cell panels, a support structure, a lower assembly slidably coupled to the support structure, a center assembly secured to the support structure, wherein the center assembly is secured to the support structure, and an upper assembly slidably coupled to the support structure. When in a closed configuration, the first, second and third plurality of solar cell are stacked above each other and are within the support structure. When in an open configuration, the first, second and third plurality of solar cell panels are aligned in an upward orientation in a first row, second row, and third row to collect solar radiation.

1 . A portable solar cell array system, comprising:
 a first plurality of solar cell panels;   a second plurality of solar cell panels;   a third plurality of solar cell panels;   a support structure;   a lower assembly configured to secure the first plurality of solar cell panels, wherein the lower assembly is slidably coupled to the support structure;   a center assembly configured to secure the second plurality of solar cell panels, wherein the center assembly is secured to the support structure; and   an upper assembly configured to secure the third plurality of solar cell panels, wherein the upper assembly is slidably coupled to the support structure;   wherein:
 the portable solar cell array is configured to move between a closed configuration and an open configuration; 
 the first plurality of solar cell panels, the second plurality of solar cell panels, and the third plurality of solar cell panels are stacked above each other and are within the support structure in the closed configuration; and 
 the first plurality of solar cell panels are aligned in an upward orientation in a first row to collect solar radiation, the second plurality of solar cell panels are aligned in the upward orientation in a second row to collect the solar radiation, and the third plurality of solar cell panels are aligned in the upward orientation in a third rear to collect the solar radiation in the open configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of solar cell panels of the lower assembly comprises:
 a first solar cell panel;   a second solar cell panel; and   a third solar cell panel;   wherein, in response to closing the portable solar cell array into the closed configuration, the second solar cell panel is in a first folded configuration to lay on top of the first solar cell panel; and   wherein, in response to closing the portable solar cell array into the closed configuration, the third solar cell panel is in a second folded configuration to lay on top of the second solar cell panel.   
     
     
         3 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 2 , wherein the lower assembly comprises:
 a first lower assembly frame member;   a first lower assembly slider member secured to the first lower assembly frame member; and   a second lower assembly slider member secured to the support structure;   wherein the first lower assembly slider member is slidably engaged with the second lower assembly slider member; and   wherein, in response to opening the portable solar cell array into the open configuration, the lower assembly is initially slid to an outwardly extended configuration from the support frame using the cooperatively engaged first lower assembly slider member and the second lower assembly slider member.   
     
     
         4 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the lower assembly further comprises a first lower assembly solar cell panel frame member that is secured to the first solar cell panel;   wherein the first lower assembly solar cell panel frame member is rotatably coupled to the first lower assembly frame member at a front of the lower assembly frame member.   
     
     
         5 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the lower assembly further comprises:
 a second lower assembly frame member that is rotatably coupled to the first lower assembly frame member at a first side of the first lower assembly frame member; 
 a second lower assembly solar cell panel frame member that is secured to the second solar cell panel; 
 a third lower assembly frame member that is rotatably coupled to the first lower assembly frame member at a second side of the first lower assembly frame member, wherein the second side opposes the first side of the first lower assembly frame member; and 
 a second lower assembly solar cell panel frame member that is secured to the second solar cell panel; 
   in response to opening the portable solar cell array into the open configuration so that the lower assembly is in the extended configuration, the third lower assembly Frame member is rotated outwardly from the first lower assembly frame member, and the second lower assembly frame member is rotated outwardly from the first lower assembly Frame member such that the first solar cell panel, the second solar cell panel and the third solar cell panel are horizontally aligned together along the first row at a same elevation; and   in response to opening the portable solar cell array into the open configuration, the first solar cell panel is between the second solar cell panel and the third solar cell panel.   
     
     
         6 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 5 , wherein the lower assembly further comprises:
 a first tilt support member that is secured between the first lower assembly solar cell panel frame member and the first lower assembly frame member,   wherein, in response to rotatably moving the first solar cell panel into a tilted orientation, the first tilt support member retains the first solar cell panel in the tilted orientation.   
     
     
         7 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the lower assembly further comprises:
 a second tilt support member that is secured between the second lower assembly solar cell panel frame member and the second lower assembly frame member; and 
 a third tilt support member that is secured between the third lower assembly solar cell panel frame member and the third lower assembly frame member; 
   in response to rotatably moving the second solar cell panel into the tilted orientation, the second support member retains the second solar cell panel in the tilted. orientation; and   in response to rotatably opening the third solar cell panel into the tilted orientation, the third tilt support member retains the third solar cell panel in the tilted orientation.   
     
     
         8 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the support structure further comprises:
 a third lower assembly slider member secured to the first lower assembly frame member on an opposing side of the first lower assembly frame member; and 
 a fourth lower assembly slider member secured to the support structure; 
   the third lower assembly slider member is slidably engaged with the fourth lower assembly slider member; and.   in response to opening the portable solar cell array into the open configuration, the lower assembly is initially slid to the outwardly extended configuration from the support frame using the cooperatively engaged third lower assembly slider member and the fourth lower assembly slider member.   
     
     
         9 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 3  wherein:
 the lower assembly further comprises:
 a second lower assembly frame member; 
 a vertically oriented first rotational post support member secured proximate to a front of the first lower assembly frame member on a side adjacent to the second lower assembly frame member; 
 a vertically oriented second rotational post support member secured proximate to a rear of the first lower assembly frame member on the side adjacent to the second lower assembly frame member: 
 a first pin secured to the second lower assembly frame member that engages with the first rotational post support member; and 
 a second pin secured to the second lower assembly frame member that engages with the second rotational post support member; and 
 
 the second lower assembly frame member is rotatably coupled to the first lower assembly frame member by the first pin that is engaged with the first rotational post support member and by the second pin that is engaged with the second rotational post support member. 
 
     
     
         10 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first rotational post support member and the second rotational post support member are defined by a vertically oriented slot;   in response to closing the portable solar cell array into the closed configuration so that the second lower assembly frame member is above the first louver assembly frame member, the first pin and the second pin are at an upper end of the vertically oriented slot so that the second lower assembly frame member is at a first elevation; and   in response to opening the portable solar cell array into the open configuration so that the second. lower assembly frame member is adjacent the first lower assembly frame member, the first pin and the second pin are at a lower end of the vertically oriented slot so that the second lower assembly frame member is at a second elevation that is lower than the first elevation.   
     
     
         11 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second lower assembly frame member;   a vertically oriented first post with a first aperture located proximate to a proximal end of the first post;   a vertically oriented second post with a second aperture located proximate to a proximal end of the second post:   a first post receiver secured proximate to a front of the first lower assembly frame member, wherein the first post receiver is configured to slidably receive and retain the first post;   a second post receiver secured proximate to a rear of the first lower assembly frame member, wherein the second post receiver is configured to slidably receive and retain the second post; and   a roller bar with a proximal end secured to a front of the second lower assembly frame member and with a distal end secured to a rear of the second lower assembly frame member;   wherein the roller bar is extended through the first aperture of the first post and is extended through the second aperture of the second post so that the second lower assembly frame member is rotatably coupled to the first lower assembly frame member.   
     
     
         12 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 in response to closing the portable solar cell array into the closed configuration so that the second lower assembly frame member is above the first lower assembly frame member, the second lower assembly frame member is at a first elevation; and   in response to opening the portable solar cell array into the open configuration so that the second lower assembly frame member is adjacent the first lower assembly frame member, the second lower assembly frame member is at a second elevation that is lower than the first elevation.   
     
     
         13 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first post receiver and the second post receiver are defined by an aperture that receives the first post and the second post respectively; and   the apertures of the first post receiver and the second post receiver retain the first post and the second post in their respective vertical orientation in response to closing the portable solar cell array into the closed configuration and in response to opening the portable solar cell array into the open configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first post receiver and the second post receiver comprise a plurality of rollers residing in the apertures; and   the rollers rotatably engage an outside surface of the first post and the second post, respectively.   
     
     
         15 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lower assembly comprises:
 a first lower assembly frame member; 
 a second lower assembly frame member rotatably coupled to a first side of the first lower assembly frame member; and 
 a third lower assembly frame member rotatably coupled to a second opposing side of the first lower assembly frame member; 
   the center assembly comprises:
 a first center assembly frame member; 
 a second center assembly frame member rotatably coupled to a first side of the first center assembly frame member; and 
 a third center assembly frame member rotatably coupled to a second opposing side of the first center assembly frame member; 
   the first side of the first center assembly frame member is secured to a first side of the support structure; and   the second side of the first center assembly frame member is secured to an opposing side of the support structure;   the upper assembly comprises:
 a first upper assembly frame member; 
 a second upper assembly frame member rotatably coupled to a first side of the first upper assembly frame member; and 
 a third upper assembly frame member rotatably coupled to a second opposing side of the first upper assembly frame member; 
   the portable solar cell array system farther comprises:
 a first slider system secured to the first side of the first lower assembly frame member; 
 a second slider system secured to the second side of the first lower assembly frame member; 
 a third slider system secured to the first side of the first upper assembly frame member; and 
 a fourth slider system secured to the second side of the first upper assembly frame member, 
   in response to opening the portable solar cell array into the open configuration, the lower assembly is initially slid forward to an outwardly extended configuration from the support frame using the using the first slider system and the second slider system so that the lower assembly extends beyond a front of the center assembly; and   in response to opening the portable solar cell array into the open configuration, the upper assembly is initially slid backward to an outwardly extended configuration from the support frame using the third slider system and the Fourth slider system so that the upper assembly ex-tends beyond a rear of the center assembly.   
     
     
         16 . A portable solar cell array system, comprising:
 a support structure;   a lower assembly movably coupled to the support structure;   a center assembly fixed to the support structure;   an upper assembly movably coupled to the support structure;   a first plurality of solar cell panels supported by the lower assembly;   a second plurality of solar cell panels supported by the center assembly;   a third plurality of solar cell panels supported by the upper assembly;   wherein:
 the portable solar cell array is configured to move between a. closed configuration and an open configuration; 
 the closed configuration is characterized by the first plurality of solar cell panels, the second plurality of solar cell panels, and the third plurality of solar cell panels being stacked above each other and within the support structure; and 
 the open configuration is characterized by:
 the lower assembly being disposed forward beyond the support structure; and 
 the upper assembly being disposed rearward beyond the support structure. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 16 , wherein the open configuration is further characterized by:
 the first plurality of solar cell panels being aligned in an upward orientation in a first row to collect solar radiation;   the second plurality of solar cell panels being aligned in the upward orientation in a second row to collect the solar radiation; and   the third plurality of solar cell panels being aligned in the upward orientation in a third row to collect the solar radiation.   
     
     
         18 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 16 , further comprising a lower slider system configured to moveably couple the lower assembly to the support structure, the lower slider system including:
 a fixed member secured to the support structure;   a slider member moveably coupled to the fixed member and fixed to the lower assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first plurality of solar panels includes a first solar panel, a second solar panel, and a third solar panel;   the lower assembly further includes:
 a first frame configured to support the first solar panel; 
 a second frame extending laterally from a first lateral end to a second lateral end and configured to support the second solar panel; and 
 a third frame configured to support the third solar panel; 
   the first frame is rotatably coupled to the first lateral end of the second frame; and   the third frame is rotatably coupled to the second lateral end of the second frame.   
     
     
         20 . The portable solar cell array system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the lower assembly further comprises:
 a rotational post support member coupled to the first lateral end of the second frame, the rotational post support member defining a vertical channel; and 
 a rotation pin coupled to the first frame and disposed within the vertical channel; 
   the rotation pin is complementarily configured with the vertical channel to enable the rotation pin to rotate within the vertical channel and to translate vertically within the vertical channel;   the first frame rotates relative to the second frame when the pin rotates within the vertical channel; and   the first frame translates vertically relative to the second frame when the pin moves vertically within the vertical channel.